Flintoff asks teammates to recall Ashes 2005 spirit
By ANIFriday, July 10, 2009
CARDIFF - All-rounder Andrew Flintoff has called on his teammates to recall the Ashes spirit of 2005 and lift themselves to combat the Australians more aggressively in the ongoing first Test here.
Flintoff’s call came as the Australians came up with a score of 249 for the loss of Phillip Hughes’s wicket in reply to England’s 436 all out.
The rallying cry came after skipper Ricky Ponting and opener Simon Katich hit tons.
Freddie reminded his pals in the dressing room of the Baggy Green collapse from 261-1 to 367 all out at The Oval in ‘05 - when the all-rounder himself took an inspirational 5-78.
Spinner and Sun man Graeme Swann said: “Fred said it’s very similar to The Oval. From being absolutely nowhere it takes one good spell to bring you back into the game just like it did back then.
“We can moan all we want about the ball going soft, the wicket going flat but that is the nature of the beast.”
England smashed 99 runs in a blistering morning session with Swann banging 47 not out off 40 balls as Andrew Strauss’ side finished on 436 all out.
But they failed to capitalise as Katich hit an unbeaten 104 and Ponting 100 not out to leave the Aussies just 186 behind. (ANI)
